Harmonic attachment.



J. -H. TROSTEL.

HARMONIC ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 19m.

1,1 64,431. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I. Y 1* T I BR-[Memes W Z} 5 2,

vuLmmlA PLANUGIXAPH CO..WASHINGTON. u. c.

JOHN H. TROSTEL, OF MARION, INDIANA.

HARMONIC ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed November 20, 1914. Serial No. 873,213.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. TnosTEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harmonic Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to musical instruments, more particularly to pianos and organs, and has for its object the provision of an attachment adapted to be placed upon the keyboard whereby an accompaniment to vocal or instrumental music may be played by a person inexperienced or unskilled in the art of playing, the accompaniment consisting of the dominant, subdominant and tonic chords played with both hands, and whereby a person may play an accompaniment with the left hand to an air played by the right hand.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character by means of which the major chords of any key may be played, an adjustment being provided for setting the device to play in the key desired this adjustment remaining fixed throughout the piece played.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character in which only one set of key-engaging fingers is employed, the fingers being shiftable to engage either the black or white keys, depending upon the key in which it is desired to play, a peculiar and novel form of shiftable finger being provided. I

WVith these and other objects and advantages in view, such as simplicity and ease of adjustment and operation, efficiency in action, cheapness in manufacture, and the general improvement of the art, my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation'of the keyboard of a piano, showing my device'in position, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation on a larger scale, showing my device arranged for playing in the key of C, Fig. 5 is a top plan view thereof, Fig. 6 is a front elevation showing my device adjusted for playing in the key of E flat, Fig. 7 is a detail front elevation of one of the key engaging fingers in position to engage a white key, Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view thereof, Fig. 9 is an end elevation thereof, and Fig. 10 is a front elevation showing the finger in position to engage a black key.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the keyboard of a piano having the white and black keys 2 and 3, respectively, the usual abutment ends 41 being of course provided.

My device comprises a strip 5 hinged in the middle, as shown at 6, and provided upon its bottom with a felt strip 7 and upon its ends with rubber cushions t5. The strip 5 is provided with a. longitudinal dove-tailed groove 9 for the reception of a tongue 10 on the lower side of a sliding strip 11.

The playing means is carried by the strip 11 and comprises two groups 12 and 13 of playing members, the group 12 being for the bass, and group 13 for the treble. The bass group 12 comprises a plurality, preferably three, of yokes 14, 15 and 16 pivoted upon the strip 11 as shown or in any other suitable manner, the height of the yokes preferably increasing rearwardly. Key engaging fingers lT, 1s and 19 are carried by the yokes l4, l5 and 16, respectively. The treble group 13 comprises three yokes 20, 21 and 22 similarly pivoted upon the strip 11. The yoke 20 is provided with key engaging fingers 23, 21 and 25; the yoke 21 with fingers 26, 27 and 28; and the yoke 22 with fingers 29, 30 and 31. The fingers on the yokes in the group 12 are so disposed in relation to the fingers on the yokes in the group 13 that the sounds produced by striking corresponding yokes in both groups will have the proper harmonic relation.

The device is applied to a piano by placing the strip 5 upon the tops of the black keys, whereupon the rubber cushions 8 will engage the end pieces 4 and the felt 7 will engage the keys, thus preventing marring during the installation and rattling during the operation of the device. The strip 5 is then sprung down to make it lie fiat, after which the strip 11 is slid over the hinged joint 6. The device will consequently be held rigidly in place.

Assuming that the operator wishes to play in the key of C, the strip 11 is slid along the strip 5 until the finger 17 will rest upon C. The fingers 18 and 19 in the bass group will then rest upon F and G, respectively. In the treble group the fingers 23, 24 and 25 will rest upon G, C and E, harmonizing with the C or G in the bass group; the fingers 26, 27 and 28 will rest upon A, C and F, harmonizing with the F in the bass group; and the fingers 29, 30 and 31 will rest upon G, B and D, harmomzingwith the G in the bass group. By then striking the proper yokes in the bass and treble groups in alternation with the left and right hands, respectively, a harmonious accompaniment may be played to vocal or instrumental music, the accompaniment consisting of the dominant chord and subdominant chord. By striking the proper yokes of both groups simultaneously an accompaniment consisting wholly of chords may be played. If desired, either or both groups be operated with the left hand while the operator plays the air with the right hand.

In order to play in any key other than C, it is necessary to slide the strip 11 up or down upon the strip 5 until the finger 17 rests upon the desired key. In Fig. 6 I have shown the finger 17 resting upon E flat, which will cause the accompaniment played to be in that key. It will be observed that in this instance, the fingers 17, 18 and 19 in the bass group will engage E fiat, B fiat and A fiat, respectively; and that the fingers 23 and 29, 2 1 and 27, and 28 in the treble group will engage B flat, E fiat and A fiat, respectively; thus giving a harmonious combination of chords in the key of E fiat.

In View of the fact that the black keys are more elevated than the white keys, means must be provided for shifting the fingers engaging the black keys so that they may engage the black keys while the other fingers may properly engage the white keys. In order to accomplish this, I form the fingers as blocks 32 pivoted as shown at 33 between ears 34 formed on plates 35 secured on the lower sides of the yokes. The end and one side of each block is covered with felt 36 to avoid marring the keys and rattling. A spring 37 is secured on the plate 35 and bears against the block 32. When finger engages a white key it remains in a vertical position, the spring bearing against the top of the block and the lower end of the block bearing upon the key. When in playing in a key other than C, a finger is disposed over a black key, it is moved on its pivot into a horizontal position with its side resting upon the key. This adjustment is simple and is quickly and readily made so that the regulation of the device to *play in any desired key may be made by one unfamiliar with the theory and technique of music.

It will of course be understood that, if desired, I may provide the yokes in either or both groups with a greater or less number of key engaging fingers.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A harmonic device for playing on the keyboard of a musical instrument comprising a strip resting upon the keys and having its ends abutting against the keyboard end pieces, said strip comprising a plurality of sections hinged together, a bar slidable on said strip over the joint, and a plurality of key-engaging members carried by said bar.

2. A harmonic device for playing musical instruments having a keyboard, comprising a strip having a dovetailed groove in its upper tace disposable upon the keyboard, a bar in said groove, a plurality of yokes pivoted upon said bar, key-engaging fingers carried by said yokes, said bar being movable to permit of said fingers engaging selected keys.

3. A harmonic device for playing musical instruments having a keyboard, comprising a supporting strip disposable upon keys of said keyboard, a dovetailed groove in said strip, a bar slidable in said groove, a plurality of yokes pivoted upon said bar, keyengaging fingers carried by said yokes, said fingers being adjustable in height to engage selected keys.

4. A harmonic device for playing musical instruments having a keyboard, comprising a supporting strip disposable upon keys of said keyboard, a bar slidable on said strip, a plurality of yokes pivoted upon said bar, key-engaging fingers pivotally mounted on said yokes, and means for holding said fingers in adjusted positions.

5. A harmonic device for pianos comprising a supporting strip disposable upon the black keys, a bar slidable on said strip, a plurality of yokes pivoted upon said bar, key-engaging fingers adj ustably mounted on said yokes, and spring means for holding said fingers in adjusted positions.

6. A harmonic device for pianos comprising a supporting strip disposable upon the blanck keys, a bar slidable on said strip, a plurality of yokes pivoted upon said bar, key-engaging fingers carried by said yokes, said fingers comprising blocks pivoted on said yokes, and springs engaging said yokes and said blocks for holding said blocks in a definite position.

7. A harmonic device for pianos comprising a supporting strip disposable upon the black keys, a bar slidable on said strip, a plurality of yokes pivoted upon said bar, key-engaging fingers carried by said yokes, said fingers comprising plates secured on the lower sides of said yokes, ears on said plates, blocks pivoted between said ears, and springs engaging said plates and said blocks for holding said blocks in a definite position.

8. harmonic device for playing pianos, comprising a supporting strip disposable upon the keys of the piano, at bar slidable on said strip, a plurality of yokes pivoted upon said bar, key engaging fingers carried by said yokes, said fingers when vertical being adapted to engage the White keys and adapted when horizontal to engage the black keys, and a plurality of means for maintaining said fingers in their chosen positions.

9. A harmonic device for keyboard musical instruments comprising a hinged supporting strip having a dovetailed groove running its entire length, a bar slidably mounted in said groove, cushions mounted on the ends of said supporting strip, a plurality of yokes pivoted on said bar, and fingers adjustable in height in reference to each other mounted on said yokes.

10. A harmonic device for playing musical instruments having a keyboard, comprising a supporting strip, a bar slidable on said strip, a plurality of yokes pivoted upon said bar, fingers pivotally mounted on said yokes, said fingers being adjustable to engage selected keys, and a plurality of means for maintaining said fingers in a selected position.

11. A harmonic attachment for musical instruments comprising a supporting strip composed of a plurality of sections hinged together, a dovetailed groove in said strip, a bar slidably mounted in said groove, a plurality of yokes pivoted on said bar, a plurality of plates secured to each of said yokes, ears formed on said plates, fingers adjustably mounted between said ears, and an independent means for holding each of said fingers in itsadjusted position.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN H. TROSTEL.

Witnesses:

H. F. NIBLICK, RAYMOND RILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 1,164,431, granted December 14,

1915, upon the application of John H. 'l rostel, of Marion, Indiana, for an improvement in Harmonic Attachments, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 111, claim 6, for the Word blanck read black; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of January, A. D., 1916.

J. T. NEWTON,

[SEAL] Acting Commissioner of Patents. 01. 8412.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 1,164,431, granted December 14, 1915, upon the application of John H. Trostel, of Marion, Indiana, for an improvement in Harmonic Attachments, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 111, claim 6, for the Word blanck read black; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of January, A. D., 1916.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 84l2. 

